Praedicator

Verba

Monday, April 13, 2015 - 2nd Week of Easter - Mon

[Acts 4:23-31 and John 3:1-8]

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him." [John]

The character of Nicodemus could easily be missed in all the other dramatic elements of the Gospel of John. He comes to Jesus at night. John uses this encounter to have Jesus make a number of important "Amen, amen, I say to you...." statements and we don't hear any more of Nicodemus until he speaks up in the Sanhedrin to defend Jesus against the accusations being used against him. Then he shows up again with Joseph of Arimathea to assist in the burial of Jesus. There seems to be a kind of progression in his faith. It certainly took courage on his part and that of Joseph to publicly ask for the body of Jesus and to bury it.

In the years that followed the death and resurrection of Jesus, the preaching of the believers eventually brought them into conflict in the synagogues. There was no initial separation from Jewish life. But the subject of Jesus began to cause division. Nicodemus represents a kind of person who responded to the preaching but was afraid to make his belief public. It took time and courage. I have met people in my pastoral experience who were going through the same struggles. One must be patient and continue to offer what is causing the attraction and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. Do you know a Nicodemus? AMEN